Ahead of the Russian National Flag Day, base jumper and multiple world record holder Sergey Boytcov, together with pilot Ivan Menyaylo, is preparing to set an absolute world record for the highest jump from a hot air balloon. The athlete plans to jump from an altitude of 11,000–12,000 meters. Russia's star skydiver is confident he will comfortably beat the mark set by Polish extreme athletes, who reached 10,060 meters.

Sergey Boytcov's jump will take place in support of the International Festival of Youth, held as part of the Youth and Children national project. The largest international youth event of its kind will run from September 11 to 17, 2026, in Ekaterinburg and will bring together 10,000 young leaders from Russia and abroad.

The unique jump can be watched on August 22 – the Russian National Flag Day – at 12:00 Moscow time, via the International Festival of Youth's community page on VK.

"This project goes far beyond a sporting achievement. The attempt is timed to coincide with the International Festival of Youth – 2026 in Ekaterinburg. We want to show the new generation that Russia is capable of solving the most ambitious engineering challenges on its own. For us, it is a symbol of the unity of science, technology and the strength of the human spirit," noted Sergey Boytcov.

Sergey Boytcov also said that setting the record will be one of the most meaningful gifts he could give himself as the Russian athlete celebrated his birthday on August 15.

The project brings together two highly complex, high-tech disciplines, namely ballooning and skydiving, according to the organizers. At an altitude of around 11–12 kilometers, air temperature drops to between –50 and –60°C, and atmospheric density falls to less than a quarter of that at the Earth's surface, requiring unique engineering solutions. A key feature of the mission is Russia's complete technological self-sufficiency: the project relies exclusively on domestically produced equipment and gear. The balloon system was developed by the Rusbal company, the parachute systems were provided by Paraavis, the oxygen equipment by the PTS joint-stock company, and the high-altitude gear by Free Zone and Chule.

Preparation for the record attempt included an unprecedented testing program. With support from the Roscosmos State Corporation, Sergey Boytcov completed a test ascent in a pressure chamber at the Cosmonaut Training Center, simulating an altitude of 12 kilometers. The team also tested the gear at temperatures as low as –60°C and rehearsed the athlete's actions in a wind tunnel.

The mission is being carried out with the support of the Russian Sport Ministry, the Russian Olympic Committee, and the State Duma Committee on Sport and Physical Culture State. Informational support is provided by the Roscosmos State Corporation, and strategic support by the Government of the Moscow Region and the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia). The project's partners include the TIRZETTA pharmaceutical brand and the MAX domestic messaging app, with the TASS news agency serving as information partner.

Overview:

The jump will be performed by Sergey Boytcov, CEO of the Created by the Heavens company and a multiple world record holder. He brings over 25 years of experience in the sport, holds a USPA Category D license, and has completed more than 2,000 jumps. Sergey Boytcov will become the first person ever to step into the stratosphere from a hot air balloon at such an altitude.

Piloting the balloon into the sky will be Ivan Menyaylo, President of the Balloon Federation of Russia, world team champion (2018), and two-time Russian national champion (2012, 2017). He is a certified balloon pilot with more than 1,000 hours of flight time, head coach of the Russian national ballooning team, and the country's current record holder for long-distance flight in a hot air balloon.

The World Youth Festival took place in Sirius on March 1-7, 2024, according to the Decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the development of international youth cooperation. The WYF-2024 brought together 20,000 young leaders from 190 countries.

In line with the Russian President’s instructions to preserve and further develop the legacy of the World Youth Festival, festival events are now held annually across the Russian Federation. In 2025, the World Youth Festival Assembly was held in Nizhny Novgorod, bringing together 2,000 young people from 120 countries. In 2026, the International Festival of Youth will welcome 10,000 participants. The next World Youth Festival for 20,000 participants will take place in 2030.

The World Youth Festival Directorate continues its work to strengthen international youth cooperation and develop a global community of young people committed to shaping a better future.